When filling out your 2013-14 FAFSA online at www.fafsa.ed.gov , students and parents of dependent students who indicate they filed federal income tax returns, are encouraged and advised to retrieve their IRS income data to populate the appropriate FAFSA field. The Department of Education has stated that if applicants choose not to use the IRS data retrieval process, before being allowed to proceed with completing the application, they will be informed that:

Your application may be selected for verification

If selected for verification, you will be asked to provide documentation obtained from the IRS – an IRS tax transcript will be required.

We advise students to first file their 2011 income tax returns and then wait two weeks before filing their 2012-13 FAFSA if they file their taxes electronically. If students file their tax return by paper, they should wait 6 to 8 weeks to file their FAFSA using the IRS data retrieval process.

Applicants who chose not to use the FAFSA –IRS Data Retrieval process, or who retrieve IRS data but subsequently change it, will be informed that they will need to explain to the financial aid office why information they provided is more accurate than the information that would have been obtained directly from the IRS and they may need to provide additional documentation.

3. A limited number of students may be selected for a process called verification. Those selected will need to submit the required verification worksheet as well as their 2011 tax return transcript. The Financial Aid Office will notify you if you have been selected for verification or additional documentation is required.

In most instances, students applying for loans only can complete the above application process 6 weeks prior to registration. Certain types of aid (Federal Work Study and Perkins loans, for example) are awarded on a first come, first serve basis.

Financial Aid applicants are awarded the maximum amount of their eligibility and will receive an Award Letter within 4-6 weeks after their file is complete showing the amount of their anticipated aid. This Award Letter must be signed and returned to the Financial Aid Office.

Priority Deadlines Spring 2013 Quarter February 15, 2013

Financial Aid Requests will continue to be processed after the priority deadline, however certain types of aid (Federal Work Study and Perkins loans, for example) are awarded on a first come, first serve basis.

Items may be scanned and sent as attachments, faxed to our attention at 805.962.4786 or mailed to the address below: